Basketball History: 5 Most gruesome injuries since 2010

Sports, just like society in general, benefits from scientific and medical advancements every generation. Injuries, that previously would result in facilitating the end of an athletic career, are now manageable and less devastating. However, every generation of pro athletes gets bigger, stronger, and fitter. It also means when they collide or misstep, the damage they do to themselves or each other is quite serious and sometimes downright gruesome

The world of basketball and the NBA, in particular, has had its fair share of injury issues concerning athletes. It is in part a reason why the pre-season was shortened starting in 2018 and the regular season extended by 2 weeks. Yet, the NBA schedulers still find ways to book teams into back to back games and 3 games in 5 nights. It's somewhat frustrating for fans as it has meant paying hefty ticket prices to not see the best players in the game.

The latter years of Shaquille O’Neal’s career saw him miss a certain number of games during the regular season just so he could play in the playoffs. A more recent example is Toronto Raptors fans, who, elated as they are to be NBA Champions, did not get to see the greatness of Kawhi Leonard 22 times in 2018/19 due to “load management” meant to keep him healthy enough this past season to lead Toronto to the title.

There have been some gruesome injuries over the years and here’s a look at five of them in the last decade:

Disclaimer: The list contains some graphic injuries, hence viewer discretion is advised.

#5 Andre Bogut broken arm vs Suns - 3 April 2010

In a late regular-season game in 2010 against the Phoenix Suns, Andrew Bogut received an outlet pass from a Milwaukee teammate. He took flight dunking the ball and received a light touch in the back from the Suns’ center Amar'e Stoudemire. Bogut’s dunk made the score 46-32 in favor of Milwaukee at the time.

Bogut hung for a moment on the rim but when he released his grip he started to land backward essentially flipping over and landing with his right arm trapped between his right side and the hardwood floor upon impact. He broke his right wrist missing the next six weeks in recovery.

Amar'e Stoudemire received a flagrant foul on the play. It’s not clear that Stoudemire’s touch affected the 7 foot 260 pounder’s fall but it was perhaps the worst of a myriad of injuries the Australian center would suffer in his career. It also happened during what was at the time a breakout season for Bogut as he averaged a double-double at 15.9 ppg and 10.2 rpg.

#4 Victor Oladipo broken leg vs Raptors - 23 January 2019

This past season, the Indiana Pacers were at one point the third-best team in the East and making noise to compete seriously against the Raptors, Bucks, and 76ers. Ultimately it was the Raptors who claimed the EC Banner and the NBA Title. As for the Pacers, they slipped to 5th overall in the East by season’s end and lost a first-round playoff series to the Celtics.

What facilitated the Pacers slippage in play was a January 23rd, 2019 game in Indiana against the Raptors. The Pacers were ahead by 8 points, leading 46-38, when a pass was sent Pascal Siakam’s way looking to score a leak out basket to bring Toronto within 6 points. Victor Oladipo was tracking back to guard Siakam when he planted his right leg, stumbled, and fell forward banging into Siakam who also fell losing the ball which went out of bounds.

The play would be the last of the then reigning 2018 MIP in the just-completed season. Oladipo had injured his right leg on the play. Oladipo screamed out loud immediately clutching around his knee calling for the trainers. Upon arrival to where Oladpo was sitting on the court, the Indiana trainers immediately covered Oladipo’s injured leg with a towel to mitigate him freaking out about the injury. Oladipo had ruptured the quadriceps tendon of his right knee.

#3 Paul George broken leg during USA Men's Basketball showcase - 1 August 2014

While things look bright for the immediate future of the LA Clippers and Paul George, this was not the case in the summer of 2014. On August 1st, 2014, as a member of the USA Men's Basketball team he suffered a gruesome injury. The team was training in Las Vegas getting ready for the FIBA World Cup in Spain. The injury occurred during a Team USA intrasquad showcase game. The squad was divided into two, blue and white jerseys.

George, playing for team USA Blue attempted to prevent James Harden (playing for team USA White) from scoring an easy layup late in the game. He fouled Harden but as he landed under the base of the basketball hoop stanchion, he misstepped suffering a compound fracture of both bones in his lower right leg.

The game was immediately stopped by head coach Mike Krzyzewski and the team held a prayer on the court for their injured teammate. After such an ugly injury, George was able to return to the line up of the Indiana Pacers by 5 April 2015, 8 months after the incident which is a testament to his youth, training, and dedication to his craft. George is certainly lucky the injury only cost him 76 games in the 2014/15 NBA season.

#2 Jusuf Nurkic broken leg vs Nets - 25 March 2019

In what was a close double-overtime game, the Brooklyn Nets were trailing the Portland 134-132. Blazers' center Jusuf Nurkic was having an outstanding game. Nurkic had tallied 32 points 16 rebounds and 5 assists when a gruesome injury struck. Nurkic’s failed attempt at a late-game put back on a teammate’s missed shot saw the arena gasp in horror as his left leg snapped on landing.

Nurkic crumpled to the floor writhing in severe pain. It was disturbing mainly because of the impact or the force with which he landed on the compromised leg. While it would have been a major blow to many teams to lose the double-double average of 15.6 ppg and 10.4 rpg Nurkic had after 72 games in 2018/19, the Trail Blazers went on to make an appearance in the WCF bowing out in a 4-game sweep to the Golden State Warriors.

#1 Gordon Hayward broken leg vs Cavaliers - 17 October 2017

The Boston Celtics were poised to do great things in the 2017-18 season. They had signed Gordon Hayward as a free agent and traded to acquire PG Kyrie Irving from Cleveland - two All-Star class additions to a good young core of players. Ultimately, they had a splendid run of play in the playoffs without their two All-Stars in 2018.

Irving was sidelined in March 2018 due to an arthroscopic knee surgery that turned out to be worse than just clean up. But, it was Gordon Hayward’s first 6 minutes 45 seconds of the season that was absolutely gruesome. In attempting to catch a lob pass under the Cavaliers basket, Hayward managed to land without the ball breaking his left leg and dislocating his ankle.

Both Hayward’s teammates and the Cleveland Cavaliers players could not look at the scene. Dwyane Wade, then of the Cavaliers was seen kneeling and praying. Tristan Thompson near center court turned his back to the downed Hayward bending over with his hands on his thighs. Hayward’s teammate Jaylen Brown was walking around with his hands behind his head stunned at the nasty scene of Hayward’s broken leg and ankle twisted to the side.

The injury didn’t slow down the Celtics in 2017/18. They won 55 regular-season games and pushed Cleveland to a 7-game series loss in the ECF.